Melbourne Music and Beaches 2012

On Saturday, I went to the expo early in the afternoon. I couldn't help but snap a picture of the venue on the way in. Mel. Beach is so pretty! The expo could use a couple more signs - there are people there to direct you, but who wants to stop and ask directions when an arrow would do the trick! The bib pickup is SUPER EASY with SHORT LINES...but fighting to get to the goodie bag is challenging! I think they do it on purpose so you have to pass by all this stuff to get to the bag!

So... Here's my loot! I joined Space Coast Running Club for the hats on the left; the visor was bought, The state farm bag, the publix bag, the tech shirt, mel beach hat, sunscreen, lip balm, pens, pencils and clif bar were some of my freebies (not to mention all of the free samples I enjoyed at the expo and coupons in my bag!)  The gecko is a gift for signing up for Eye of the Dragon 10K and Space Coast Walk of Fame 8K.  We (me and the girl) also got the bondi bands and Mila.

I cheated the night before the race and took an Ambien because I knew that I wouldn't sleep. Sure enough, it was only strong enough to last 4 hours and then I was wide awake from 3am til I gave it up at 4:45. Which was fine, because I was, indeed, WIDE awake! I jumped into the clothes I set out and tossed my water and stuff into my bag, penned on my bib and waited for J to get here at 5:40. No coffee, no food - trying to control IBS (didn't work). Jill was riding shotgun when they arrived and we chatted all the way to downtown. Lively folks that early in the morning! Parking wasn't all J dreamed about, but honestly it wasn't bad (at 6:15 when we got there... ). We only had to walk a block to the race start.

Before the race started I was feeling really good! Oh, there is nothing I hate worse than standing around freezing before a race starts! We walked over to the happening spot, waited in an extremely long but fast potty line, found Suezette, lost Suezette, found her again. The music was going but wasn't BOOMING like it has in the years past. It was WARM! I was in heat gear tights, shorts and the race short sleeve tech shirt and I was warm just standing around. (ut-oh! I see trouble ahead!)

Right before we took off I met the legendary Dave Mari and we got our pic taken with him! YEH!! Ok, so the first 2 miles were great, at 2.5 I was thinking it is going to be a LONG run! The water view was just so awesome on US-1, I love that view but dang, that bridge looked so far away! Now, as far as the causeways go --- oh, I rocked them! Plowed right up Eau Gallie! It was around this time (mi 6) that I realize I'm getting a rash, so I took several moments at mile 7 to adjust (no TMI here!). I was really struggling before we stopped and Suezette passed us around now! J said after the break that I looked like I had cooled off some and wasn't beet red anymore. But still I had to slow down, take more walk breaks for the remainder of the race. I really wanted to catch up with Suez, but I just couldn't pull it out of me today. Riverside drive was killing my knees and feet. I told J to go ahead and she refused! She just stayed with me and coached me all the way to the end! (Awwwah, I know! So sweet!) My walk breaks were pretty much co-in siding with water stops, except for The break I took at the end of mile 11, right before the Melbourne causeway. Which (BTW) I commanded!! A mile later, at the base of the other side, (I was dying) one more walk break at the fuel station on mile marker 12. And then it was all in from there! oh wait... It was suppose to be and then there popped up another fuel station I had to take advantage of. I'm sorry peeps, but it was flippin hot (did I mention that?). It was a short little pit-stop and THEN it was all in the rest of the way. We finished strong and spent, and that is what it is all about!

Here we are in the finish shoot, right before we hit the post-race festivities! Pizza and beer before 10am never tasted so good! The race was really done extremely well; there were water stations around every corner - I think they were closer together the farther we went (maybe it was just me?!) The port-a-potties were plentiful...The music was good. And the bling...ohhh...

THE BLING IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!

Overall time: 2:31:40 A new personal worst! But, considering I had back surgery 4 months ago AND I really haven't ran but 5-6 times in 10 months...coupled with the suckish heat and humidity today, I think this is not too shabby! I'm very proud of myself for finishing.